Writ-with-Hand

I tend to feel I really don't have enough knowledge base to draw from to be a *good* writer per se.

I feel that I need to continue becoming better educated on all sorts of subjects from politics to various subjects in history to psychology to whatever else... before I can really become a good creative writer.

Am I wrong?

Erik Buchanan

Yep.

All the things that you are talking about are important, because they help inform your work, but they aren't everything.

What makes a good writer is writing, so write.

All of us have work that we look back on and go "What the H.E. double hockey sticks was I thinking?" All of us mature as writers as we move forward (at least I hope I am or I've wasted far too much time doing this). But the way we do this is by writing.

Everything we study, everything we read for fun, everything we see, everything we do, everything we feel...

That's getting too long.

Everything informs your writing.

Now, if there is a specific topic you want to write about, or a specific approach you wish to take, then you will need to study that topic or approach, and certainly, learn as much as you can.

But don't assume that you need all that to be a good writer. Write often, submit often, get critiqued often.

And study grammar. Bad grammar kills most work.

Thus endeth the rant.

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Malone

Do as much crazy shit as you can. Hitch hike, be homeless, travel to bizarre third world countries, do drugs. Lack of experience will obviously hinder some of the more creative aspects of your work if you want to write non-fantasy or horror stuff (basically, if you want to write "real" things), but it can always be gained. We can't all live in Spain and run with the bulls, but you can do interesting things of your own.
And reading lots and lots gives you expereince that you can pretend you've really lived when you write.

HarryG

You could be wrong. Write what you know about is the accepted maxim, but you have indicated by your short post that you can write and have some experience.

There have been many instances of first-time writers producing best sellers, and all they’ve done is written about what they know about, a virginal, uncorrupted account of their truth, as long as it’s well written.

On the other hand, practice does make perfect, if you’ve got the time.

Ilasir Maroa

Write what you know is too general in my opinion. It's good to know what you are writing about, but it also helps if you enjoy the topic.

__________________
My hopeful book:
Crap! Haven't posted it anywhere yet, darn!
"Only tyranny cloaks itself in shadows. The light of justice can not be hidden."
www.theoddvillepress.com

Rabid Euphoria

I'm writing a book about a mutated strain of rabies. While I did some research, even as far into the structure of the rabies virus itself I couldn't use it. It's essentially zombie horror. Now, having never been in a zombie outbreak I have zero experience. My only knowledge of them is what I've seen in movies.

Many times you're just going to have to wing it and discover the facts later. Don't try and be crucial to the facts in a first draft, unless it's a crucial plot point. You don't want to do something and then find when researching later it's wrong or impossible and everything is messed up.

Say you're writing about mutlitple personality disorder, something very fact specific then I suggest reading several books on the subject from several different doctors before you begin writing because when dealing with a very well known, fact oriented idea you don't want to make a fool of yourself.

Erik Buchanan

Rabid, I am shocked and appalled. Any writer worth his or her salt would surely make the effort to go out and find a proper zombie outbreak before attempting to bring such things into his or her work.

Rabid is absolutely right. In fact, most folks here are with the possible exception of the "doing drugs" thing (personal bias). Drugs can do some impressive things about opening up your consciousness. They can also f*ck you up royally. Be careful what you take.

As for writing what you know, I write books about magic, so I don't buy that idea at all.

One more thought:

The other thing it takes to be a good writer is the willingness and ability to put your soul on the page. Whether you're talking about a zombie outbreak or a young man coming of age in a magical world or a druggie spending the night in prison or whatever, you have to be willing to feel the emotions of the people you are writing and lay them out on the page in a way that makes your audience feel them.

More than anything else, I'd say, that will make you a good writer.

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Writ-with-Hand

Thanks everyone for the responses, I appreciated *every person's* typed reply.


Some of the things mentioned in this thread I already knew about but I guess my query comes from seeing my Creative Writing teacher I had last semester, at the beginning of this semester briefly in the hall. He asked me what courses I was taking this semester and after I told him he said I needed to get back into a creative type writing course. However, I felt then and I feel now, that I need to still develop a more rounded education before I can triumph or do well in creative based writing.

But what you said, Erik, may make sense as to why my Creative Writing teacher said what he did to me. Erik you said: "
But don't assume that you need all that to be a good writer. Write often, submit often, get critiqued often."

Erik you also made a good point, as it relates to me, about grammar. My grammar has never been the best when writing. My English 201 teacher was *excellent* and I often feel bad my handle of grammar does not reflect her competence. The technical mechanics of the English language I suppose is one of my weaknesses. I've taken English 202 and a journalism class already too. My teachers in both cases believed I had potential even though I would make grammatical mistakes at times.

HarryG, you are close in your instincts or observation that I'm not totally ignorant when it comes to writing or the craft of. I have a fair or decent amount of reading and my interests are broad so I often give the *illusion* that I am "well read."

Thanks again for everyones responses.